Perhaps it would be easier if everyone just realized there are no "game journalist". Noone went to journalism school or took journalism courses in college to write about video games. Not the reviewers/bloggers/"freelance writers" at Gamespot, IGN, Gamasutra, or here at mmorpg.com. The sooner you all stop referring to these people as "journalist", and the sooner they themselves stop trying to use the false label for themselves, the better it will be for all.
+1000
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -Winston Churchill
This is a weak excuse at best. If they've been answered and it's important, keep asking the question. If questions are asked and not answered, don't give up until you get an answer. Someone on the team knows. There is no such thing as "off limits" in true journalism. It's called taking risks and not being a simple puppet.
Yeah, that's not how it works. You DO realize that all employees of pretty much any gaming company are under strict NDAs and could face not only termination, but also legal action if they were to reveal information to us that we weren't supposed to have. It's not a question of people not knowing the answer, it's of people not being able to give an answer publically.
So, what I'm doing is not called "being a simple puppet," it's having an actual understanding of my job, its business and the business that I deal with on a daily basis.
I don't think you understand that investigative reporting isn't just about getting the information dangling in front of you. You think breaking stories just happen? That there is no risk involved? Please, there is risk involve. An aversion to risk in itself is not an excuse. You are also taking this way too personally. The gaming media industry is, in general, hugely lacking for the very defensive reasons you are giving. You all get so uptight when people say hey, there is absolutely, no reason why you can't do more.
I mean seriously, which company out there, in any industry, tells their employees to go out and talk to the press. None of them do and yet miraculously reporters still get their stories, still find out information that wasn't published by the marketing department, still do their jobs.
This is quite true.
The problem with game journalists is that the vast majority of them are not journalists at all, but rather game players who can (sometimes) write. Look at the staff here at MMORPG.com. How many of them have any formal training in reporting, communication, or journalism? Journalism is a professional skill, and not something you can automatically do well simply because you have command of the English language.
A couple of the staffers here might have game industry experience in the form of being part of a community team or writing quests or whatever, but that doesn't translate into knowing how to report stories. The majority are likely freelancers hired off the street with no industry experience whatsoever, which is why the articles tend to slant heavily towards editorial/opinion pieces and the interviews are basically regurgitations of what PR people give them, with no opportunity for follow-up questions when non-answers are given.
What it boils down to, as Nesrie pointed out, is that game journalists have done nothing to make the gaming suits and PR types think of them as anything more than glorified fanboys. Sure some game journalists get paid, but that doesn't make them professionals. Professionals work to get the truth and unique angles, and they don't worry about getting "cut off" by the people they're reporting on. Lol. That's pure laziness.
The journalist is the one with the power in this equation, not the PR person. It's high time game companies, and game "journalists" started realizing that. If some PR shield cuts you off, go around him, dig up some facts and dirt, and publish what you find. You know, be a journalist.
Forgot to mention that the mentality of the game journalist is basically "omg I'm getting paid to write about (and therefore play) video games!!!!" There is very little motivation to rock that boat by asking tough questions or finding out things the game companies don't want you to know.
It's a very lazy profession, which is why it attracts so many non-professionals and pays so little. I'm not saying all game journalists are lazy, but many are, elsewise we would have more real information and less re-written press releases.
Perhaps it would be easier if everyone just realized there are no "game journalist". Noone went to journalism school or took journalism courses in college to write about video games. Not the reviewers/bloggers/"freelance writers" at Gamespot, IGN, Gamasutra, or here at mmorpg.com. The sooner you all stop referring to these people as "journalist", and the sooner they themselves stop trying to use the false label for themselves, the better it will be for all.
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
In game terms, the most respected sites do attempt to balance accurate/fair reporting with their self interest. Its an on going struggle, especially in difficult economic times. Except for the very largest sites, the major game corps hold most of the cards, as they determine who gets interviews, advanced looks at up coming games and other such access. Thats simply the reality of power.
In game terms, the most respected sites do attempt to balance accurate/fair reporting with their self interest. Its an on going struggle, especially in difficult economic times. Except for the very largest sites, the major game corps hold most of the cards, as they determine who gets interviews, advanced looks at up coming games and other such access. Thats simply the reality of power.
There will always be a place for interviews, for spitting out the company line handed to someone, for opinion pieces. But hey we're talking about an industry that acknowledged that there are pressures on giving high reviews after the gamespot issue, IGN said they had the same issue, and what changed... nothing. The industry has a lot of these sites bought and paid for, and yes, they are cowards for being so willing to sell their integrity at such a cheap price. In this date and age, games shouldn't be released without knowing whether there is a multplayer component (Ghostbusters), without knowing that Majesty's 2 AI Opponents were removed, and there is no randomization in the maps, whether or not pay to win is true. I mean seriously, what gaming company is going to jump out and shout YES WE ARE DOING PAY TO WIN. Of course that is what they are going to say, yet that is as far was most of these so called journalist go. I wouldn't even call most the interviews, actually interviews, its just the same questions over and over again no surprises, no real answers, pats on the back all around. Is it all useless, no, no it's not. There is usually something useful in there somewhere which is why it has gone on as long as it has, but to say this system works... are you kidding me?
parrotpholk-Because we all know the miracle patch fairy shows up the night before release and sprinkles magic dust on the server to make it allllll better.
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
"In the absence of any real facts, the small-minded always gravitate towards the most sinister explanation."
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -Winston Churchill
In game terms, the most respected sites do attempt to balance accurate/fair reporting with their self interest. Its an on going struggle, especially in difficult economic times. Except for the very largest sites, the major game corps hold most of the cards, as they determine who gets interviews, advanced looks at up coming games and other such access. Thats simply the reality of power.
There will always be a place for interviews, for spitting out the company line handed to someone, for opinion pieces. But hey we're talking about an industry that acknowledged that there are pressures on giving high reviews after the gamespot issue, IGN said they had the same issue, and what changed... nothing. The industry has a lot of these sites bought and paid for, and yes, they are cowards for being so willing to sell their integrity at such a cheap price. In this date and age, games shouldn't be released without knowing whether there is a multplayer component (Ghostbusters), without knowing that Majesty's 2 AI Opponents were removed, and there is no randomization in the maps, whether or not pay to win is true. I mean seriously, what gaming company is going to jump out and shout YES WE ARE DOING PAY TO WIN. Of course that is what they are going to say, yet that is as far was most of these so called journalist go. I wouldn't even call most the interviews, actually interviews, its just the same questions over and over again no surprises, no real answers, pats on the back all around. Is it all useless, no, no it's not. There is usually something useful in there somewhere which is why it has gone on as long as it has, but to say this system works... are you kidding me?
Sure it works... The question is for whom? Mainly for the game corporations at this point. But due to the nature of the internet, that is slowly changing. But people have to actively seek out information and different perspectives. All too many people can't be bothered to do that, even given how easy it has become. The result is what we see around us.
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
"In the absence of any real facts, the small-minded always gravitate towards the most sinister explanation."
Given the enormous efforts invested in keeping real facts from coming to light(or obfuscating any that do), is it any wonder that thoughtful people attribute such to malice? One might well say that the small minded are easy to please, just so long as they are told what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear.
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
"In the absence of any real facts, the small-minded always gravitate towards the most sinister explanation."
Given the enormous efforts invested in keeping real facts from coming to light(or obfuscating any that do), is it any wonder that thoughtful people attribute such to malice? One might well say that the small minded are easy to please, just so long as they are told what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear.
Ah, a budding conspiracy theorist. The truth comes out...
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -Winston Churchill
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
"In the absence of any real facts, the small-minded always gravitate towards the most sinister explanation."
Given the enormous efforts invested in keeping real facts from coming to light(or obfuscating any that do), is it any wonder that thoughtful people attribute such to malice? One might well say that the small minded are easy to please, just so long as they are told what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear.
Ah, a budding conspiracy theorist. The truth comes out...
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
"In the absence of any real facts, the small-minded always gravitate towards the most sinister explanation."
Given the enormous efforts invested in keeping real facts from coming to light(or obfuscating any that do), is it any wonder that thoughtful people attribute such to malice? One might well say that the small minded are easy to please, just so long as they are told what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear.
Ah, a budding conspiracy theorist. The truth comes out...
All one has to do is look at the f2p mess in lotro and the 5 articles that followed to wonder about conspiracies. I think the real truth lies some where in ethics and plagirism.
Forgot to mention that the mentality of the game journalist is basically "omg I'm getting paid to write about (and therefore play) video games!!!!" There is very little motivation to rock that boat by asking tough questions or finding out things the game companies don't want you to know.
It's a very lazy profession, which is why it attracts so many non-professionals and pays so little. I'm not saying all game journalists are lazy, but many are, elsewise we would have more real information and less re-written press releases.
Quoted for the goddamn truth. :P Crockopoopoo summed everything up pretty well with his last two posts. I'd just like to add one thing: a journalist questions. It's about creatively engaging information just as much as it is about information itself. Otherwise, "journalists" are easily replaced by Twitter. That this is actually the current trend reveals how bad most newspapers are, not how evil and misleading the internet is. And they're bad because the journalists they employ have their imaginations stunted by thinking they're just 'reportin' the news' and that being close to information is good enough to justify their pay.A good journalist with good reporting skills and good ability to comment on his/her information will never be replaced by Twitter.
Why do videogame sites and magazines never publish papers, real, thinking, investigative papers on piracy, the used-game market, the idiotic censorship mentioned by Stradden, the relationship between the media and the game industry, and so and so on? There's a ton of topics available to be exploited and expanded upon, but no people to take them up. The only real piece of games journalism I've ever read was in that Insomnia site that's become bloated with silly articles attempting to be intelligent; it was a long, critical piece on why piracy is so widespread, and how is it that the game industry is leading to its own collapse just like the music industry started to all those years ago. The author pulled up a myriad of sources and statistics that were checkable. It was excellent simply because there was nothing like it, and after all this time there's still nothing like it.
Anyone out there analyzing the general over-the-top, orgiastic discourse of the E3? Of course not, they're busy nitpicking how similar Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is to its predecessor, thank you very much.
Any mainstream site out there writing about how closing up the used game market is the worst idea Electronic Arts has had? Of course not, they're weakly, fearfully saying how it's actually "fair" because "devs get paid that way".
The videogame journalism thing needs to grow up. It can do so fast, like, lightning fast, if only the people involved would be more bold, more willing, and less intimidated by the industry. It doesn't need any time. It's ready. It's just a matter of you 'journalists' pulling your pants up.
When I was working for Martian Metals in the 1980's and worked with Metagaming, FASA and Steve Jackson Games I saw much of what you talk about.
This type of behaviour is not tolerated by most governments with strong consumer protection laws since it is seen as harming the consumer.
The gaming industry, and several other industries, is still seen as small bananas and not worth the policeing effort. The recent disclosure that at least one SOE player representative is being compensated by SOE has called attention to this. The fact was discoverd by a third party and SOE has no policy requireing that these people inform the players that represent them may also be compensated by the game developer.
Comments
+1000
This is quite true.
The problem with game journalists is that the vast majority of them are not journalists at all, but rather game players who can (sometimes) write. Look at the staff here at MMORPG.com. How many of them have any formal training in reporting, communication, or journalism? Journalism is a professional skill, and not something you can automatically do well simply because you have command of the English language.
A couple of the staffers here might have game industry experience in the form of being part of a community team or writing quests or whatever, but that doesn't translate into knowing how to report stories. The majority are likely freelancers hired off the street with no industry experience whatsoever, which is why the articles tend to slant heavily towards editorial/opinion pieces and the interviews are basically regurgitations of what PR people give them, with no opportunity for follow-up questions when non-answers are given.
What it boils down to, as Nesrie pointed out, is that game journalists have done nothing to make the gaming suits and PR types think of them as anything more than glorified fanboys. Sure some game journalists get paid, but that doesn't make them professionals. Professionals work to get the truth and unique angles, and they don't worry about getting "cut off" by the people they're reporting on. Lol. That's pure laziness.
The journalist is the one with the power in this equation, not the PR person. It's high time game companies, and game "journalists" started realizing that. If some PR shield cuts you off, go around him, dig up some facts and dirt, and publish what you find. You know, be a journalist.
Forgot to mention that the mentality of the game journalist is basically "omg I'm getting paid to write about (and therefore play) video games!!!!" There is very little motivation to rock that boat by asking tough questions or finding out things the game companies don't want you to know.
It's a very lazy profession, which is why it attracts so many non-professionals and pays so little. I'm not saying all game journalists are lazy, but many are, elsewise we would have more real information and less re-written press releases.
One might say the same of those who did go to such schools, these days. Most end up working for MiniTrue, and spend their lives supporting the status quo(which the mass media worships). The old style investigative reporters are damn few and far between today. Its FAR easier to go along to get along, than to speak truth to power. Not to mention that most of the general population doesn't want to know the truth any way.
In game terms, the most respected sites do attempt to balance accurate/fair reporting with their self interest. Its an on going struggle, especially in difficult economic times. Except for the very largest sites, the major game corps hold most of the cards, as they determine who gets interviews, advanced looks at up coming games and other such access. Thats simply the reality of power.
There will always be a place for interviews, for spitting out the company line handed to someone, for opinion pieces. But hey we're talking about an industry that acknowledged that there are pressures on giving high reviews after the gamespot issue, IGN said they had the same issue, and what changed... nothing. The industry has a lot of these sites bought and paid for, and yes, they are cowards for being so willing to sell their integrity at such a cheap price. In this date and age, games shouldn't be released without knowing whether there is a multplayer component (Ghostbusters), without knowing that Majesty's 2 AI Opponents were removed, and there is no randomization in the maps, whether or not pay to win is true. I mean seriously, what gaming company is going to jump out and shout YES WE ARE DOING PAY TO WIN. Of course that is what they are going to say, yet that is as far was most of these so called journalist go. I wouldn't even call most the interviews, actually interviews, its just the same questions over and over again no surprises, no real answers, pats on the back all around. Is it all useless, no, no it's not. There is usually something useful in there somewhere which is why it has gone on as long as it has, but to say this system works... are you kidding me?
parrotpholk-Because we all know the miracle patch fairy shows up the night before release and sprinkles magic dust on the server to make it allllll better.
"In the absence of any real facts, the small-minded always gravitate towards the most sinister explanation."
Sure it works... The question is for whom? Mainly for the game corporations at this point. But due to the nature of the internet, that is slowly changing. But people have to actively seek out information and different perspectives. All too many people can't be bothered to do that, even given how easy it has become. The result is what we see around us.
Given the enormous efforts invested in keeping real facts from coming to light(or obfuscating any that do), is it any wonder that thoughtful people attribute such to malice? One might well say that the small minded are easy to please, just so long as they are told what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear.
Ah, a budding conspiracy theorist. The truth comes out...
Laughter... It does, eventually...
All one has to do is look at the f2p mess in lotro and the 5 articles that followed to wonder about conspiracies. I think the real truth lies some where in ethics and plagirism.
Quoted for the goddamn truth. :P Crockopoopoo summed everything up pretty well with his last two posts. I'd just like to add one thing: a journalist questions. It's about creatively engaging information just as much as it is about information itself. Otherwise, "journalists" are easily replaced by Twitter. That this is actually the current trend reveals how bad most newspapers are, not how evil and misleading the internet is. And they're bad because the journalists they employ have their imaginations stunted by thinking they're just 'reportin' the news' and that being close to information is good enough to justify their pay. A good journalist with good reporting skills and good ability to comment on his/her information will never be replaced by Twitter.
Why do videogame sites and magazines never publish papers, real, thinking, investigative papers on piracy, the used-game market, the idiotic censorship mentioned by Stradden, the relationship between the media and the game industry, and so and so on? There's a ton of topics available to be exploited and expanded upon, but no people to take them up. The only real piece of games journalism I've ever read was in that Insomnia site that's become bloated with silly articles attempting to be intelligent; it was a long, critical piece on why piracy is so widespread, and how is it that the game industry is leading to its own collapse just like the music industry started to all those years ago. The author pulled up a myriad of sources and statistics that were checkable. It was excellent simply because there was nothing like it, and after all this time there's still nothing like it.
Anyone out there analyzing the general over-the-top, orgiastic discourse of the E3? Of course not, they're busy nitpicking how similar Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is to its predecessor, thank you very much.
Any mainstream site out there writing about how closing up the used game market is the worst idea Electronic Arts has had? Of course not, they're weakly, fearfully saying how it's actually "fair" because "devs get paid that way".
The videogame journalism thing needs to grow up. It can do so fast, like, lightning fast, if only the people involved would be more bold, more willing, and less intimidated by the industry. It doesn't need any time. It's ready. It's just a matter of you 'journalists' pulling your pants up.
Stop derailing the thread and get back on topic please.
When I was working for Martian Metals in the 1980's and worked with Metagaming, FASA and Steve Jackson Games I saw much of what you talk about.
This type of behaviour is not tolerated by most governments with strong consumer protection laws since it is seen as harming the consumer.
The gaming industry, and several other industries, is still seen as small bananas and not worth the policeing effort. The recent disclosure that at least one SOE player representative is being compensated by SOE has called attention to this. The fact was discoverd by a third party and SOE has no policy requireing that these people inform the players that represent them may also be compensated by the game developer.